Food Safety
search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
Food Safety
  • NEWS
    • Latest News
    • White Papers
  • PRODUCTS
  • TOPICS
    • Contamination Control
    • Food Types
    • Management
    • Process Control
    • Regulatory
    • Sanitation
    • Supply Chain
    • Testing and Analysis
  • PODCAST
  • EXCLUSIVES
    • Food Safety Five Newsreel
    • eBooks
    • FSM Distinguished Service Award
    • Interactive Product Spotlights
    • Videos
  • BUYER'S GUIDE
  • MORE
    • ENEWSLETTER >
      • Archive Issues
      • Subscribe to eNews
    • Store
    • Sponsor Insights
  • WEBINARS
  • FOOD SAFETY SUMMIT
  • EMAG
    • eMagazine
    • Archive Issues
    • Editorial Advisory Board
    • Contact
    • Advertise
  • SIGN UP!
Contamination ControlFood TypeChemicalMicrobiologicalProduce

Food Safety Heats Up: Changing Temperatures and Food Risk Impacts

By Wendelyn Jones Ph.D.
yellow corn up close

Credit: Phoenix Han (phienix_han) via Unsplash

December 26, 2022

Tracking environmental temperature changes for their impacts on food safety is increasingly important, as just a few degrees of change will shape how food risks develop and unfold, according to recent research.  

At a recent Institute for the Advancement of Food and Nutrition Sciences (IAFNS) conference, a presentation on the study, "Climate Change will Increase Aflatoxin Presence in U.S. Corn"1 was given by Dr. Felicia Wu, a Distinguished Professor of Food Safety, Toxicology, and Risk Assessment at Michigan State University.  

Aflatoxin is a mycotoxin that presents major food safety risks in the U.S. Corn Belt—and IAFNS welcomed the presentation as an effort to get our collective arms around crop health and food safety concerns in a changing environment. 

Aflatoxin is a type of mycotoxin that is produced by the fungi Aspergillus flavus, which thrives in warm, dry climates. "The populations that are most vulnerable [to aflatoxin] are people who live in warm climates where tree nuts, corn, and spices are staple foods," according to Dr. Wu, who co-authored the study.1The paper appears in the open-access journal Environmental Research Letters. Currently, the regions most affected are sub-Saharan Africa, Southeast Asia, Central America, and the U.S. South, according to the author's conclusions. 

Aflatoxin poses liver cancer risks, and is "the most potent, naturally occurring human carcinogen," Wu explained. Approximately 100,000 cases of liver cancer are caused by aflatoxin per year, and acute cases can occur at high doses. Additionally, aflatoxin can impact child development, cause stunting, and affect immune function—all serious health concerns.

Dr. Wu explained that as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates aflatoxin, it has determined that aflatoxin poses more economic harms than food safety risks in the U.S. at this juncture. However, she warned that near-term climate change creates uncertainty around the level of risk that aflatoxin will pose to U.S. produce in the future. For example, unlike some other mycotoxins, A. flavus does not respond well to fungicides and other mitigation tools. 

The study1 focuses on where aflatoxin will be a problem in U.S. corn in 2031–2040 and tapped farmers' crop insurance claims, along with environmental data. To project forward, the team developed a model of aflatoxin risk as a function of temperature, rainfall, and grower practices and tracked historical data for each category. 

Aflatoxin problems arise during the "silking" phase as corn grows and the yellow strands develop, as well as during the "denting" phase as some kernels split open. The fungus moves through the silks (the yellow stringy part that is removed when shucking). It can also enter the kernels through dents or splits as the corn grows.

The bottom line of Dr. Wu's research is that aflatoxin risk will intensify in the Midwest in the near future, certainly from 2031–2040. Aflatoxin problems are likely to be the most intense in Kansas and Missouri, with a smaller but still significant increase in the main Corn Belt states of Iowa, Illinois, and Nebraska.  

Interestingly, as risks shift northward, they leave some areas behind. Due to the northward shift in the temperature belt, aflatoxin risk will decrease in Texas as the state grows too hot for the fungus to survive.  

When queried about options to address aflatoxin risks, Dr. Wu advocated for broader use of biotechnology, such as CRISPR gene editing, to produce more resilient breeds of corn. 

IAFNS welcomes this analysis, as it used rigorous modeling and analysis to address how food safety and environmental trends are intertwined. For example, IAFNS also supports aflatoxin in corn research2 given the importance of maintaining safe corn yields to provide ingredients for many foods.  

IAFNS addresses other biological contaminants by supporting research on waterborne pathogens. Researchers at North Carolina State University examined the emergence, potential routes of contamination and proliferation, as well as virulence and susceptibility of three major foodborne pathogens in the freshwater supply including Salmonella, Listeria and Campylobacter.3

Dr. Wu's analysis also lends itself to a number of other sectors such as commodity production, seed development, and grower practices. Risk evaluations such as these draw on multiple disciplines to creatively generate and mobilize knowledge. These types of findings support decision-making across sectors such as universities, industry, and government. New knowledge on aflatoxin and corn benefits growers, processors, researchers, producers, and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) extension specialists, among others.  

The authors went to some length to incorporate a variety of climate model projections into their work to support their evidence and findings and flesh out uncertainties. They relied on over 15 different climate scenarios in conducting the study. This and other research shows how food safety and environment intertwine to pose unique risks and opportunities. Only by acknowledging and addressing potential risks in advance can we reap the rewards of prevention. In this example, Dr. Wu and her colleagues have outlined a path toward safe corn. 

References

  1. Yu, Jina, David A. Hennessy, Jesse Tack, and Felicia Wu. "Climate change will increase aflatoxin presence in U.S. Corn." Environmental Research Letters 17, no. 5 (April 25, 2022). https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1748-9326/ac6435.
  2. Cheng, X. and M. J. Stasiewicz. "Evaluation Of The Impact Of Skewness, Clustering, And Probe Sampling Plan On Aflatoxin Detection In Corn." IAFNS Risk Analysis. March 17, 2021. https://iafns.org/publication/evaluation-of-the-impact-of-skewness-clustering-and-probe-sampling-plan-on-aflatoxin-detection-in-corn/.
  3. Harris, A. R., E. N. Fidan, N. G. Nelson, et al. "Microbial Contamination In Environmental Waters Of Rural And Agriculturally-Dominated Landscapes Following Hurricane Florence." ACS EST Water 1, no. 9. (August 23, 2021). https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acsestwater.1c00103. 
KEYWORDS: aflatoxins climate change corn

Share This Story

Looking for a reprint of this article?
From high-res PDFs to custom plaques, order your copy today!

Wendelyn Jones, Ph.D., is Executive Director of the Institute for the Advancement of Food and Nutrition Sciences (IAFNS). She has a passion for bringing together science and society, drawing from her global experiences working across the chemical, agricultural, food, and health sectors. She applies her Ph.D. in life sciences to extend IAFNS' contributions to, and impact within, diverse scientific and health communities.

Recommended Content

JOIN TODAY
to unlock your recommendations.

Already have an account? Sign In

  • people holding baby chicks

    Serovar Differences Matter: Utility of Deep Serotyping in Broiler Production and Processing

    This article discusses the significance of Salmonella in...
    Microbiological
    By: Nikki Shariat Ph.D.
  • woman washing hands

    Building a Culture of Hygiene in the Food Processing Plant

    Everyone entering a food processing facility needs to...
    Sanitation
    By: Richard F. Stier, M.S.
  • graphical representation of earth over dirt

    Climate Change and Emerging Risks to Food Safety: Building Climate Resilience

    This article examines the multifaceted threats to food...
    Risk Assessment
    By: Maria Cristina Tirado Ph.D., D.V.M. and Shamini Albert Raj M.A.
Manage My Account
  • eMagazine Subscription
  • Subscribe to eNewsletter
  • Manage My Preferences
  • Website Registration
  • Subscription Customer Service

More Videos

Sponsored Content

Sponsored Content is a special paid section where industry companies provide high quality, objective, non-commercial content around topics of interest to the Food Safety Magazine audience. All Sponsored Content is supplied by the advertising company and any opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily reflect the views of Food Safety Magazine or its parent company, BNP Media. Interested in participating in our Sponsored Content section? Contact your local rep!

close
  • Two men standing in a produce storage facility having a discussion.
    Sponsored byOrkin Commercial

    Staying Compliant With FSMA

  • Deli Salads
    Sponsored byCorbion

    How Food Safety is Becoming the Ultimate Differentiator in Refrigerated and Prepared Foods

Popular Stories

FoodSafetyMattersFinal-900x550-(002).jpg

Ep. 195. Dr. Christopher Daubert: The Value of a Food Science Education

Students returning their lunch trays in a cafeteria

California Bill Would Remove Ultra-Processed Foods from School Lunches

Two men standing in a produce storage facility having a discussion.

Staying Compliant With FSMA

Events

June 26, 2025

How to Design and Conduct Challenge Studies for Safer Products and Longer Shelf Life

Live: June 26, 2025 at 2:00 pm EDT: During this webinar, attendees will learn how to conduct challenge studies for microbial spoilage and pathogen growth, including the common challenges encountered, laboratory selection, and use of predictive models.

May 11, 2026

The Food Safety Summit

Stay informed on the latest food safety trends, innovations, emerging challenges, and expert analysis. Leave the Summit with actionable insights ready to drive measurable improvements in your organization. Do not miss this opportunity to learn from experts about contamination control, food safety culture, regulations, sanitation, supply chain traceability, and so much more.

View All

Products

Global Food Safety Microbial Interventions and Molecular Advancements

Global Food Safety Microbial Interventions and Molecular Advancements

See More Products
Environmental Monitoring Excellence eBook

Related Articles

  • scientists investigating indoor-grown crops

    Whether It's Food Safety Processes or New Products—Innovate!

    See More
  • roosters in a cage

    Sharing Data to Protect Public Health: The Why, the What, and the How

    See More
  • conveyor belt and hazard sign

    How is the Revolution in Technology Changing Food Safety?

    See More

Related Products

See More Products
  • Food-Forensics-3D.jpg

    Food Forensics Handbook Practice, Instrumentation, Case Studies

See More Products

Events

View AllSubmit An Event
  • August 29, 2024

    Understanding and Addressing Biofilm Communities and Behavior in the Food Plant

    On Demand: In this webinar, speakers with expertise in industry food safety, sanitation, and genomics will provide education on the formation and behavior of biofilms and the challenges they pose to food safety and sanitation operations.
View AllSubmit An Event

Related Directories

  • Hygiena

    At Hygiena®, our mission is to create innovative diagnostics for a healthier world, providing critical solutions that uphold safety and quality standards across various industries. Our suite of products includes the SureTrend® data analysis platform, ATP cleaning verification, allergen detection, molecular diagnostics and product quality tools. These solutions are designed to help you see the bigger picture and make timely decisions to protect your customers and your brand.
  • Cognituv

    Cognituv delivers evidence-based intelligent IoT-enabled UV-C disinfection solutions, partnering with facility managers with our proven process to elevate hygiene and achieve ESG goals. Our US-made products focus on disinfection, and enhanced operations, for optimizing sustainability to scale.
×

Never miss the latest news and trends driving the food safety industry

eNewsletter | Website | eMagazine

JOIN TODAY!
  • RESOURCES
    • Advertise
    • Contact Us
    • Directories
    • Store
    • Want More
  • SIGN UP TODAY
    • Create Account
    • eMagazine
    • eNewsletter
    • Customer Service
    • Manage Preferences
  • SERVICES
    • Marketing Services
    • Reprints
    • Market Research
    • List Rental
    • Survey/Respondent Access
  • STAY CONNECTED
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • X (Twitter)
  • PRIVACY
    • PRIVACY POLICY
    • TERMS & CONDITIONS
    • DO NOT SELL MY PERSONAL INFORMATION
    • PRIVACY REQUEST
    • ACCESSIBILITY

Copyright ©2025. All Rights Reserved BNP Media.

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing